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1. U.S. Halts Student Visa Interviews

Here’s what happened: The State Department ordered all embassies and consulates to stop adding new F-, M- and J-visa interview slots while it drafts expanded rules to screen every applicant’s social-media history. Existing appointments remain in place, but new ones are frozen worldwide as of May 27 (Associated Press Staff, AP News).

Here’s why it matters: International students inject more than $40 billion a year into the U.S. economy and bolster graduate-level STEM research. Schools warn that a prolonged freeze could push applicants to competitor countries and deepen higher-education budget gaps, while civil-liberties groups say screening political speech online risks First-Amendment violations (Anumita Kaur et al., The Washington Post).

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: Commentators applaud the pause as a “commonsense security step,” arguing that social-media vetting will help stop foreign activists from “using U.S. campuses as launchpads for anti-American protests.” Some say universities addicted to full-tuition dollars should “clean up their own antisemitism mess” before complaining about delays (Washington Examiner Staff, Washington Examiner).

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: Vox warns the freeze could “blow a hole in America’s scientific edge,” noting that elite labs rely on foreign talent. Columnists fear bureaucrats will trawl posts for political litmus tests, chilling free expression and accelerating a “brain-drain to Canada, Germany and Singapore” (Rachel Cohen, Vox).

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2. CDC Drops Covid Shots for Moms & Kids

Here’s what happened: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that routine Covid-19 vaccination is no longer recommended for healthy pregnant women or children, removing those groups from the CDC schedule on May 27 (Tom Murphy, AP News).

Here’s why it matters: Medical societies stress that pregnancy increases severe-Covid risks and that childhood uptake was already low (∼13 %). Insurance coverage usually follows CDC schedules, so advocates worry access—especially for the uninsured—will erode (Meg Tirrell, NPR).

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: The Daily Wire calls the change “common sense,” quoting officials who say myocarditis concerns outweigh benefits for low-risk groups. Writers hail it as a Trump-era promise fulfilled and urge states to scrap school‐entry mandates next (Mary Margaret Olohan, Daily Wire).

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: Health.com notes OB-GYN groups deem the rollback “dangerous,” warning it undermines trust and may raise stillbirth rates. Analysts accuse HHS of sidelining its own advisory panel and predict insurers will shift costs to families (Julia Landwehr, Health.com).

3. Appeals Court Revives Trump Tariffs

Here’s what happened: A divided Federal Circuit panel stayed a trade-court ruling that had struck down President Trump’s blanket 10 % tariff on virtually all imports, allowing the duties to resume while litigation continues, on May 29 (Stephen Culp et al., Reuters).

Here’s why it matters: The temporary green light lets Customs start collecting billions in duties again and may strengthen Trump’s hand in Congress as he pushes a broader “economic nationalism” platform (Gavin Bade, Politico).

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: Fox Business argues the stay proves judges recognize tariffs as “leverage, not lunacy,” framing the policy as essential to curb China’s overcapacity and rebuild Rust-Belt jobs. Commentators urge Trump to double the rate if courts ultimately side with him (Bret Baier, Fox Business).

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: The Guardian calls the ruling a “reprieve that could backfire,” noting economists predict higher consumer prices and allies threaten retaliation. Editors say the stay highlights how much latitude courts give presidents on trade, even when Congress hasn’t voted for new duties (Larry Elliott, The Guardian).

4. Musk Exits DOGE After 130 Days

Here’s what happened: Standing beside Donald Trump in the Oval Office on May 30, Elon Musk confirmed his last day as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, though the president said the billionaire “will be back often” as an adviser (Nandita Bose et al., Reuters).

Here’s why it matters: Watchdogs say Musk’s departure clouds the future of DOGE, which has cut only ≈$175 billion in spending versus the promised $2 trillion, and faces Supreme Court fights over data access and layoffs (Marisa Taylor et al., Reuters).

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: National Review concedes Musk “shook the bureaucracy” but contends that entrenched agencies outlasted his chain-saw tactics; columnists praise the experiment yet call it proof real reform needs statutory teeth, not celebrity advisers (Luther Abel, National Review).

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: The Guardian deems Musk’s stint “chaotic theater,” citing reports of botched veteran benefits and privacy risks from his Grok AI pilot. Writers argue his exit shows Trump’s tech-hero governance model “implodes on contact with reality” (Lois Beckett, The Guardian).

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5. U.S. to Revoke Chinese Student Visas

Here’s what happened: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will “aggressively revoke” visas held by Chinese students with Communist-Party ties or working in “critical” tech fields, and tighten future vetting, starting May 28 (Costas Pitas et al., Reuters).

Here’s why it matters: Nearly one-quarter of all international students are from China, contributing billions to U.S. universities. Mass cancellations could sever a key talent pipeline and intensify Beijing-Washington tensions already strained by tariffs and Taiwan arms sales (Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera).

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: Fox News pundits applaud the crackdown as overdue, claiming campuses have been “honeycombed with CCP informants” and arguing that visas are a privilege, not right. Commentators predict universities will “finally confront dependence on hostile-nation cash” (Peter Aitken, Fox News).

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: Al Jazeera interviews Chinese scholars who call the policy collective punishment and warn it will spur a “scientific decoupling” hurting U.S. innovation. Analysts say revocations echo Cold-War suspicion and risk retaliation against American students abroad (Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera).

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